BUTTERFLY BASICS BUNDLE IS MY CREATIVE BLOG HOP PICK OF THE DAY!

Here it is, my very first blog hop.  This is the Creative Blog Hop, and it is very simple.  I post pictures of some things I have been working on, answer four questions and ask two of my friends to participate in the Creative Blog Hop next Monday.

Thanks for stopping by today.  If you enjoy the Creative Blog Hop, please feel free to pass the link along to your friends so they can enjoy it too!

In light of the thirteen inches of snow that fell in Rochester Hills, Michigan during the day yesterday and overnight last night, I decided I would use the Butterfly Basics Stamp Set, along with the coordinating Butterflies Thinlits Dies AND the Artisan Embellishment Kit.  I love the embellishment kit almost as much as I love this stamp set.  I picked this stamp set, because I can't see a butterfly without thinking of summer and beautiful flowers and sunshine. I hope these cards will put a little sunshine into your Monday morning wherever you may be!

For this first card, I used some Blackberry Bliss and Sahara Sand ink and card stock.  I love this 3x4 card with the die cut flowers.  It is so elegant!  I also added a little Blackberry Bliss Thin Velvet Trim around the middle of the lacy butterfly~~very beautiful!

 This second card I spotted on Pinterest and it was way too tempting not to CASE.  With the little Blushing Bride Rosette Trim and the Pearl Jewels and Doilie, this card is very soft and warm.

 This stamp set lends itself to a collage look, so for the third card, that is what I did.  The Rose Red Lace has an antique feel to it while adding lots of color to the card.

 I used the coordinating Butterflies Thinlits Die on all of my cards.  I think they are absolutely amazing with all the details in them, and there is no fussy cutting....  There is a trick to cutting the bigger butterflies out, and the trick is in the sandwich.  Each Big Shot is a little different, but the sandwich that works best for me is (from the bottom up):

1) Magnetic base
2) Clear plastic plate
3) Dryer sheet (unused)
4) Card Stock
5) Wax Paper
6) Thinlit
7) Clear plastic plate

This sandwich makes my butterflies just pop right out~~no struggling and no "chads"!

I have one more card to share with you.  For this one I used a really different technique.  I stamped the background with the Gorgeous Grunge Stamp Set in Blackberry Bliss and then I spritzed my stamped cardstock with a spray bottle containing rubbing alcohol.  That gives my background this sort of runny, watercolor look.

Here is a close up look at the butterfly.  After I used the Thinlit to "cut" the butterfly from my Blackberry Bliss card stock, I smushed some Versamark over the butterfly and then sprinkled some Irridescent Ice Embossing Powder over it and heated/embossed it. I love all the sparkles on the butterfly!

 The Butterfly Basics Stamp Set and Butterflies Thinlits Dies are one of those great items Stampin' Up! offers "bundled" where you can save some money when you order the coordinating pieces~~I love saving money!!

You can order just the Butterfly Basics Stamp Set (shown below)

Or order just the framelits (shown below)


Or, you can bundle these products and get both the stamp set AND the framelits (shown below) and save 15%


And, of course, you are going to need this wonderful Artisan Embellishment Kit!


AND if you order all three of these items during Sale-a-Bration, you can pick a FREE item from the SAB Catalog!

YOU CAN PLACE YOUR ORDER RIGHT NOW, RIGHT HERE!

OKAY, back to the Creative Blog Hop.  Here are the four questions, and my answers:

1)  What are you working on now?  The first Friday of each month I have a stamp club, so right now I am working on cards for them to make at club.  Not to give too much away, but they will be using stamps from the Occasions Catalog AND the Sale-a-Bration Catalog

2)  How does your work differ from others in your genre?  When I am creating I always try to put a personal touch in everything I make.  I combine different techniques to achieve just the right "feel" for all of my paper crafting projects.  I am a Gemini, which is the sign of the twins, and to me this shows itself a lot in my work.  I can create a very soft, feminine piece and then a really bright and funny piece.  It's like I have lots of different personalities and tastes when I am creating, as opposed to one specific "style" I gravitate to.

3)  Why do you create what you do?  This might be the easiest question of all.  I create because it soothes my soul and helps keep me grounded.  It is the therapy that lets me be me and express myself.   As far as creating what I do, I use my creations as gifts, decorations, party favors....  my creations add that special hand made touch that lets you know I genuinely care~~they are like a warm hug.

4)  How does your creative process work?  I always start with a sketch or an idea from something I have seen online or in a catalog, etc... and I go from there.  There is always something that "sparks", whether it is a stamp or a color combination or an accessory; it just sparks an idea and I go forth and create.  I often end up with something totally different than what my first "vision" was, and that is perfectly good with me!

Now for the two people I asked to participate next week, on Monday, February 9th.   DRUM ROLL, PLEASE.....   They are Emma Fewkes and Keri Blake.  Both of these women are very talented Stampin' Up! demonstrators whose work I admire.  I hope you will join them next week when they are the Creative Blog Hop!

See Emma HERE
See Keri HERE